Carrying Case with Removable Cover

ABSTRACT

A carrying case including a base portion, a lid rotatively and removably connected to the base portion, a first and second securing unit on an edge of the base portion with the first securing unit and second securing unit being separated by a distance and each having a channel extending through their length, a third securing unit on an edge of the lid having a channel extending through the length of the third securing unit wherein the length of the third securing unit is less than the distance separating the first and second securing units, a removable pin having a knob and a threaded portion on one end wherein the pin is sized such that the pin passes through the channels in the first, second and third securing unit.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.61/896,202 filed Oct. 28, 2013 entitled “Carrying Case with RemovableCover.”

BACKGROUND

Traveling for business or pleasure often requires the use of luggage totransport belongings to and from a destination. Many times differentpieces of luggage are used based on the purpose of the travel. In manycases, the appearance of luggage used for personal travel differs fromluggage used for business travel. Because different luggage styles areused for business and personal travel, travelers must buy multipleluggage pieces depending on the purpose of the travel.

A need exists of luggage that will allow a user to change the appearanceof the luggage without purchasing a new luggage set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention includes a carrying caseincluding a base portion, a lid rotatively and removablly connected tothe base portion, a first and second securing unit on an edge of thebase portion with the first securing unit and second securing unit beingseparated by a distance and each having a channel extending throughtheir length, a third securing unit on an edge of the lid having achannel extending through the length of the third securing unit whereinthe length of the third securing unit is less than the distanceseparating the first and second securing units, a removable pin having aknob and a threaded portion on one end wherein the pin is sized suchthat the pin passes through the channels in the first, second and thirdsecuring unit, where the surface of the channel of the first or secondsecuring unit includes a threaded portion and the threaded portion ofthe pin is sized to engage the threaded portion of the first or secondsecuring unit when the pin engages the securing units.

In another embodiment, the lid is removed from the base by removing thepin from the first, second and third securing units.

In another embodiment, the lid is made of plastic.

In another embodiment, the lid include ridges extending from the surfaceof the lid.

In another embodiment, the ridges form a recessed area on the cover.

In another embodiment, the recessed area is sized to accommodate agraphical image.

In another embodiment, the lid is made of a clear material.

In another embodiment, the graphical image is printed on an interiorsurface of the lid.

In another embodiment, the ridges prevent the recessed area of the lidfrom contacting the ground

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a carrying case that is consistent with this invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a removable cover;

FIG. 3 depicts a side cut away view of the securing band;

FIG. 4 depicts a tensioning unit for the rigid band that is incorporatedonto a side of the securing band;

FIG. 5 depicts a carrying case with a removable cover;

FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment a removable hinge for the carrying case;

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the cover for the carrying case;and

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of the securing units and pin of the carryingcase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a carrying case that is consistent with this invention.The carrying case 100 includes a base 102, an upper lid 104, and asecuring band 106. The securing band 106 removably connects a removablecover (not shown) to the upper lid 108 of the carrying case 100. Thebase 102 is made from a rigid material such as aluminum, steel, plasticor any other rigid material. In one embodiment, the base 102 includes arigid frame covered in a durable fabric such as nylon or Kevlar. Theupper lid 108 is removably connected to the base 102 by a hinge (notshown) that connects the base 102 to the upper lid 108 along one side ofthe base 102 and upper lid 108.

FIG. 2 depicts a removable cover 200. The removable cover 200 includes aface portion 202, side walls 204 and securing ridge 206. The faceportion 202 is configured to receive an embossed or imprinted logo suchas the logo of a sports teams. The removable cover 200 is made from arigid material such as steel, aluminum, polycarbonate or any other rigidmaterial. The securing ridge 206 runs along the periphery of the loweredge of the removable cover 202. The removable cover 202 is shaped suchthat is substantially conforms to the shape of the upper lid 108.

FIG. 3 depicts a side cut away view of the securing band 106. Thesecuring band 106 is substantially “C” shaped and includes a rigid band300 embedded in the securing band 106. The rigid band 300 is made from amaterial having memory characteristics such as steel. The rigid band 300continuously runs through the center of the securing band 106 along theentire length of the securing band 106. The upper ridge 302 of thesecuring band includes a notch 304 that is configured to engage a ridge306 on the outer edge of the securing ridge 206. The lower ridge 308 ofthe securing band 106 engages a ridge 310 of the upper lid 108 to securethe upper lid 108 to the cover 206. A ridge 312 on the outer portion ofthe ridge 310 may engage a notch 314 in the lower portion of thesecuring ridge 106 to laterally secure the upper lid 108 to the cover206.

When the rigid band 300 is placed under tension, the center portion 316of the securing band 106 is pulled in contact with the ridge 206 and theridge 310. The rigid band 300 also rotates the upper ridge 302 and thelower ridge 308 of the securing band 106 such that the upper and lowerridge 302 and 308 apply opposing forces against the ridges 206 and 310to secure the cover 206 to the upper lid 108. The length of the ridges206 and 310 are configured such that the securing band 106 affixes thecover 206 to the upper lid 108.

When the tension is removed from the rigid band 300, the center portion316 of the rigid band 300 moves away from ridge 206 and ridge 310 toallow the ridge 206 to be removed from the securing band 106. Thesecuring band 106 is configured such that the rigid band 300 allows theupper ridge 302 to move away from the cover 206 to allow the over to beremoved.

In one embodiment, the ridge 310 is permanently affixed to the lowerridge 308 of the securing band 106. Consistent with this embodiment, thenotch 312 may be spring biased such that the notch recesses into theridge 310 when the cover 206 engages the notch 306. Further, the sidesurface of the notch 312 may be sloped away from the securing band 106to allow the ridge 206 to slide along the top surface of the notch 312forcing the notch 312 down until the ridge 206 is positioned above thenotch 312.

FIG. 4 depicts a tensioning unit 400 for the rigid band 300 that isincorporated onto a side of the securing band 106. Each end of the rigidband 300 is affixed to one end of clips 402 such that the rigid band 300is pulled into tension when the clips 402 are engaged and is releasedfrom tension when the clips 402 are disengaged. In one embodiment, therigid band 300 is secured to two clips 402. In another embodiment,multiple rigid bands 300 are connected to multiple clips 402 to ensurethe proper amount of tension is applied to the rigid band to secure thecover 200 to the upper lid 108. A biased push button 404 may be used toengage and disengage the clips. When the push button 404 is engaged, abar securing the clip to the carrying case is retracted to allow thetension in the rigid band 300 to pull the clip away from the carryingcase. When the clip 402 is pushed towards the securing band 106, theclip engages the bar and the button 404 is extended upward. The numberof rigid bands 300 and clips 402 used in the carrying case is determinedby the distance the securing band 106 must travel to allow insertion ofthe ridge 206 on the cover 200 into the securing band 106.

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the carry case with a removablecover. The carrying case 500 include removable hinges 504 and 506 thatallow the cover 502 to be removed from the carrying case 500. FIG. 6depicts a detailed view of the removable hinges. Each hinge includes apin (not shown) and a knob 602. The pin engages securing units 604 onthe lower portion of the case and a securing unit 604 on the cover 502.The securing unit 606 on the removable case 502 is sized such that thelength of the securing unit 606 is less than the distance between thesecuring units 604 on the lower portion of the case. The knob 602includes a cavity having a threaded portion that engages a threadedportion on a securing unit 604 of the lower case. The knob 602 isremovably attached to the securing unit 604 such that the pin can beremoved from the securing units 604 and 606.

The cover 502 is attached to the base by the hinges 502 and 504 androtates open and closed via the hinges 502 and 504. The cover may bemade from any solid material including plastic, metal, wood or any othermaterial. The pin may be made of any rigid material including steel orplastic. FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of a cover. The cover 700includes a recessed portion 702 on the surface of the cover 700. Therecessed portion 702 is formed by two ridges 704 and 706. The ridges 704and 706 extend from the surface of the cover 700 such that the topsurface of each ridge is separated from the surface of the cover by adistance. In one embodiment, the top surface of the ridges are separatedfrom the surface of the cover by a distance that is sufficient toprevent the surface of the cover 700 from contacting the ground when thecover is dropped or slid on the ground. In one embodiment, the ridges704 and 706 are integrally attached to the cover. In another embodiment,the ridges 704 and 706 are removably attached to the cover 700. Inanother embodiment, the ridges 704 and 706 are affixed to the cover 700.The surface area of the recessed portion is sized to accommodate agraphical image. In one embodiment, the cover is made of a substantiallyclear material and a graphical image is printed on the back surface ofthe cover 700. The transparent material may be acrylic or plastic. Thesecuring units 606 on the cover 700 include a central cavity 708 thatallows the pin to pass through the entire length of the securing unit606.

FIG. 8 depicts a side detached view of the cover 700 engaging the base102. The base 102 includes securing units 604. Each securing unit 604includes an opening allowing the pin 802 to pass through the opening.The cover 700 includes securing units 606 that is configured to fitbetween the two securing units 604 on the base 102 when the cover isattached to the base 102. Each securing unit 606 includes a centralcavity that is sized to accommodate the pin 802.

The pin 802 includes the knob 602 and a threaded portion 804 the pin hasa diameter that is sized to fit into the opening in the securing units604 and 606. One of the securing units 604 on the base includes athreaded portion that is configured to engage the threaded portion 804on the pin 802. The knob 602 is configured to rotate such that thethreaded portion 804 fully engage the threaded portion in the securingunit 604 on the base 102. The channels in the securing units 604 and 606are configured such that the central axis of the channels are coaxialwhen the cover 700 is positioned on the base 102. In one embodiment, theend of the pin opposite the knob is threaded and engages a correspondingthread in the securing unit 604 furthest from the knob 602 when the pin802 engages the securing units.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention claimed. The disclosedconfiguration is the preferred embodiment and is not intended topreclude functional equivalents to the various elements.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention. Together with the description, thedrawings serve to explain the principles of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A carrying case including: a base portion; a lidrotatively and removably connected to the base portion; a first and asecond securing unit on an edge of the base portion with the firstsecuring unit and second securing unit being separated by a distance andeach having a channel extending through their length; a third securingunit on an edge of the lid having a channel extending through the lengthof the third securing unit wherein the length of the third securing unitis less than the distance separating the first and second securingunits; a removable pin having a knob and a threaded portion on one endwherein the pin is sized such that the pin passes through the channelsin the first, second and third securing unit, wherein the surface of thechannel of the first or second securing unit includes a threaded portionand the threaded portion of the pin is sized to engage the threadedportion of the first or second securing unit when the pin engages thesecuring units.
 2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the lid isremoved from the base by removing the pin from the first, second andthird securing units.
 3. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the lid ismade of plastic.
 4. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the lid includeridges extending from the surface of the lid.
 5. The carrying case ofclaim 4 wherein the ridges form a recessed area on the cover.
 6. Thecarrying case of claim 5 wherein the recessed are is sized toaccommodate a graphical image.
 7. The carrying case of claim 1 whereinthe lid is made of a clear material.
 8. The carrying case of claim 7wherein a graphical image is printed on an interior surface of the lid.9. The carrying case of claim 4 wherein the ridges prevent the recessedarea of the lid from contacting the ground.